Thursday, September 7, 2017

A Harem of Zebras


Today I'm joining my dear friend Yvonne of Meggy's Way who is hosting Art Journal Journey this month.  She has chosen Colo(u)r in my World as her theme.  I'm having a bit of trouble writing the word "colour," because my spell check goes crazy when I do.  I'll also be joining Try it on Tuesday with their fortnightly theme of Stitch It (real or faux).

I now give you

Evie was smart.  She was brave.  She didn't like the position she had been placed in, and was trying to get away.  In order to do this,

she hid among this harem of zebras.

Do you see Evie? 

She is quite well camouflaged against the black, white, and orange harem. 


She is so well camouflaged, right down to her hands, it will be hard for anyone who might be looking for her to find her.

For this piece, I started with a used file folder I spent a lot of time coloring with a paint pen.  Then I added the image which I found in a magazine (it was an ad for a printer) and sewed the saying to the piece using variegated thread.  Obviously today's colors are black, white, and orange.

On a different note, several of my blogging friends have shared their garden updates lately.  On Sunday, I was so tired of the overgrown mess in my front garden, I got out my string trimmer and trimmed it all back before mowing my lawn. 

It starts looking bad about this time every year, so this year I decided to do something about it before it was time to completely mow it back right before the first frost.

I left the still flowering hostas, but cut back most everything else.    In the background you see items on my front porch that need to go to the local charity shop.

I don't remember these hostas blooming so well in years past.  BTW, I brought one of these hosta plants on an airplane from New Jersey one year.   I'm fairly certain they should be divided and transplanted next spring.

On the herb front, I spent a lot of time cutting back the blackberry bush.

I completely filled my trash container with both growing and dead vines.   Yesterday morning I cut back and weeded many of my plants, but I was simply too tired to do so on Sunday.  I also was too tired to mow the back yard.  At least the yard looks good decent from the front, and that is what is important for curb appeal.

and a photo that has nothing to do with my garden or art, but I thought you might enjoy.  Yes, this is the head of the face of our blog.

Thanks for joining me today for my garden update as well as my art I'm sharing at
 
Art Journal Journey

and

Try it on Tuesday.

20 thoughtful remarks:

Valerie-Jael said...

What a fun page you made, thanks for linking it to TIOT, too. Looks like you did a lot in the garden, it looks really different now. Good to see Bleubeard, too. Have a nice day, hugs, Valerie

Dortesjs said...

Super gorgeous and love your way of writing to..gardening is huge job I KNOW I have a garden of my own and then you put your sweet RELAXING cat at the end..some do relax and cat are good at this during daytime at night they turn into little tigeres...

pearshapedcrafting said...

Love Evie! How clever of her.....and what a fabulous way to make your page!Thank you for joining us again at Try It On Tuesday! You certainly made a big difference to your garden! Good idea to start at the front! Lovely see Bleubeard taking it easy- hope you are too! Hugs,Chrisx

froebelsternchen said...

So FUN - I wouldn't have seen her at first glance if you hadn't wrote about Evie!
It's the same to me with the spelling of "colour" sometimes I write ou and then just o - for me as german speaking person it's difficult enough to find corresponding words and to strive for correct spelling and grammar.
I did learn English mostly from American You Tubers during the last years - my school English wasn't nearly exisiting - I didn't remeber much of my school English. So my English isn't excellent. We had to learn "British" Englisch at school and I remember that the teachers didn't allow other terms than British terms. We had a girl in class who's mother was American and the teacher often asked her how they say in American English for a term.
But we weren't allowed to use that terms! I still meet the British affectation on some of the blogs -
but I understand the most of the things meanwhile and what I don't understand is easy to find online.
You did a great job in your garden so far!
But don't overdo yourself!
My hosta bloomed beautiful this year as well but had been pitted by caterpillars. I think it were the same as on my nasturtium - as I had seen so many lovely white butterflies in the garden this year.
You are so good with this herbs and I adore your lasagna gardening part!So well done all!
Great to see Mr. Bleubeard is doing well!
Thank you very much for joining us at Art Journal Journey and also at Try It On Tuesday with this BEAUTIFUL and fun entry dear Elizabeth!
oxo Susi

Meggymay said...

Oh my this is a wonderful illusion, at first glance the zebra's looked amazing the they are gathered together and then looking closer Evie appeared, I hope she did escape from the hunters.
It is a fantastic page you have made for the Art Journal Journey theme Elizabeth.
I really love this combination of colours in your world today.
Thank you also for joining us for the TioT's stitching theme.
They are super photos of your garden, your herbs do look so healthy and the front of your home looks very welcoming.
I hope you told Bleubeard you had taken his photo, he looks so comfortable and relaxed.
Yvonne xx

My name is Erika. said...

She did a great job hiding. I really had to look to find her, but once I spotted her, she couldn't hide from me then. :) Nice page. That photo is really interest. Your garden looks good. You were an ambitious lady doing that cleaning. I haven't gotten around to cleaning mine yet, and it's starting to look end of season brown and rather overgrown. Oe of these days. Happy Thursday. Hugs-Erika

RO said...

First things first. I wanna come to hang out at your house which seems totally adorable. What a brilliant creation with zebra page. I absolutely love it! Hugs...RO

Anonymous said...

this is a wonderful illusion!!!
wonderful the house with garden and cat... great Photos !!!
Happy Day
elke

CJ Kennedy said...

Fun page. Reminded me of finding the hidden objects in the Highlights magazine when I was a kid. I did spot the woman. Loved her being camouflaged among the zebras. Harem interesting word for a group of zebras. No men allowed :-D

Enjoyed seeing your garden. I need to get out and do some of those end of season chores.

Bleubeard made me smile. That was one of Ink's favorite nap poses. Happy memory.

Sandra Cox said...

I would have never found the lady hiding in zebras if you hadn't enlarged her. Good one!
You've got a serious garden going and you really worked hard. Good job!
I loved that your hostas traveled with you from NJ. This has definitely been the Year of the Hosta. I think it's all the rain we had, don't you? Our Irises started in IN, moved with us to IL then NC:)
Awww, look at that sweet boy.
Have a great one, Elizabeth:)

Let's Art Journal said...

If you hadn't added the text to your page I probably wouldn't have spotted Evie ...lol 😁. That's such a fun page and perfect for Yvonne's AJJ theme! Your garden looks all tidy and ready for the fall and it's wonderful to see all your herbs doing so well too. I loved seeing Bleubeard, he looks so comfy - maybe he got tired out just watching you do all that hard work in the garden ...lol 😉. Enjoy your week and Happy Weekend! J 😊

da tabbies o trout towne said...

waves two ewe bleu N squigglez az well...yur gardin looks way better N R's coz da naybor hood harez eatin de lot oh it ~~~~~~~~ faaaaaaaaaaa

Margik said...

A great and interesting page... so creative! Thank you for joining us at Try It On Tuesday.
Mar x

Rita said...

I sure didn't she Evie at first!
Your yard is looking good. :)

Joan said...

A fun page, took me a while to spot Evie, good work in the garden too

Thanks for joining us at TIOT challenge

Joan

peggy gatto said...

Oh what fun!!!

Divers and Sundry said...

Sweet sleeping kitty :)

I love your garden updates. Your blackberry vine is an inspiration! My plants are all concealed on the patio in back, so I can (and do) just let the plants go in the fall. I cut them back in early spring. My pentas and lantana are still blooming in their pots, and the houseplants are all still outside. I need a couple of new pots to put rubber trees in; they've outgrown the temporary plastic ones I rooted them in.

Jeanie said...

I love your house. How I would love to sit on your porch right now! And your garden -- wow. I know what you mean about the overgrowth-- my sweet peas look like Audrey Two from Little Shop of Horrors. But boy, loads of work you have there and you've done great with it.

On another note, as I catch up with things, thanks for your visits to the Gypsy and traveling along with my Quebec posts! I really appreciate your comments and have loved having you along for the ride (or walk, as the case may be.) Yes, we had to make choices -- can't do it all but it is a great excuse to return. One, maybe a couple more posts on that lined up, then back to home!

Cindy McMath said...

Love the zebra page! Great optical illusion. The sewing adds a nice element. Love seeing Bleubeard always!

UplayOnline said...

Lovely see Bleubeard taking it easy- hope you are too! Hugs,Chrisx


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